Palermo

Capital of Sicily, with Arab-Norman churches and golden mosaics, street food at the Ballarò market, and the seaside town of Cefalù an hour away.

Palermo is the capital of the Italian region of Sicily, located on the Gulf of Palermo on the island's northwest coast, backed by Monte Pellegrino, with a population of more than 600,000. Over more than two thousand years, the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spanish and others have all left their mark here. The "Arab-Norman" architectural ensemble from the 12th-century Norman kingdom, blending Islamic, Byzantine and Latin styles (the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel, the Cathedral, La Martorana, San Cataldo and La Zisa, along with the cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalù), was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. The old town is centered on Quattro Canti, where Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda cross, and is divided into four historic quarters; churches, palaces and open-air markets such as Ballarò and Capo are densely packed, making it ideal for exploring on foot. The new town, bounded by Teatro Massimo and Teatro Politeama, is where shopping and dining are concentrated. Palermo is also Italy's street food capital: don't miss arancine (fried rice balls), panelle (chickpea fritters) and pane con la milza (spleen sandwich). Day trips: Mondello beach to the north, Monreale to the southwest, Bagheria and Cefalù to the east, and the Temple of Segesta, the Zingaro Reserve and the hilltop town of Erice to the west. Climate: April–June and September–October are best; July–August is hot and is also beach season; winters are mild and rainy. Getting there: Falcone-Borsellino Airport is about 35 km from the city center, about 50 minutes by train or airport bus; from Rome and Naples you can take an overnight ferry or fly. Suggested time: 3–4 days. Notes: watch for pickpockets in markets and on buses; non-resident vehicles are banned from the old town's ZTL restricted zone on weekends; churches require covered shoulders and knees; many sights are closed on Mondays or at midday, so check official websites before you go.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries